Chapter 427: Palace Banquet (1)
Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing Madam Xia and Fan Zijin heading straight for the Qi family’s seat, Madam Shen said with a smile, “I’ll go later.”
Matriarch Yuan also saw the two of them. She knew that the Qi brothers had a good relationship with Madam Xia, and the family members of the generals Madam Xia knew were not inferior to them. It was just that they hadn’t been in contact much over the years.
Madam Xia was indeed going over to bring Li Jinghua and Mu Yangling to meet people. This was a rare opportunity to build connections, and it was difficult for the two of them to acquaint others without anyone introducing them. Since both the Xia family and the Zhu family had military backgrounds, she knew the families of many military officials.
When Mu Yangling saw them coming, she nudged Qi Haoran and the two of them stood up to welcome them. Madam Xia nudged her son and smiled brightly. “Alright, the two of you go play. I’ll bring Jinghua and Ah Ling to meet a few friends.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Aunt to take care of them.” Qi Haoran turned around and said to Mu Yangling, “Listen to Aunt and Sister-in-law.”
Mu Yangling obediently agreed in a low voice.
Fan Zijin couldn’t help but take a few more glances at her submissive manner. This made Madam Xia nervous. She took a step forward and blocked his gaze, then waved her hand and smiled. “Hurry up and go. I think the Chen family’s kid has already looked over a few times.”
Chen Qian was one of their good brothers in the past. After returning, Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin hadn’t met up with him. Since it had been five years, they were indeed a little distant. The two of them looked over and indeed saw that kid glaring at them. The brothers looked at each other and exchanged a smile before walking over.
Madam Xia heaved a sigh of relief and turned around to look at the gentle Mu Yangling. She sighed slightly. At this moment, no matter how much she liked Mu Yangling, she didn’t want to spend her time here interacting with her. Recently, she had found so many young ladies for her son, but he didn’t fancy any of them.
Madam Xia dragged the two of them to meet a friend. Of course, the main point was to help Li Jinghua build a bridge with the other party. She also wanted to help Mu Yangling because compared to Qi Xiuyuan, she was closer to Qi Haoran and regarded him as a second son.
Qi Xiuyuan was her nephew, so naturally she also doted on him. However, Qi Haoran had grown up under her care, making their relationship more extraordinary. However, after introducing two people, when it came to introducing the third person, she started focusing her attention on Li Jinghua.
This was because Mu Yangling’s temper was really too gentle. Although she appeared magnanimous on the surface, unless someone asked her a question, she would definitely not take the initiative to talk to them. She only stood at the side with a smile.
Mu Yangling felt very helpless about this misunderstanding because she really couldn’t get a word in. Moreover, the other party was unfamiliar to her, so it was naturally best to smile and listen.
Madam Xia felt that Li Jinghua’s social skills were much better. She could flatter people without batting an eyelid. Moreover, as soon as she introduced someone, Li Jinghua seemed to know the situation of the other party’s husband’s family and her maternal family. She always knew the right thing to say, and the questions she asked was always something the other party was interested in. Even Madam Xia, who had socialized for more than 20 years, sighed. Back then, when she first married into the Fan family, if she had half of Li Jinghua’s social skills, she might not have ended up like that.
As expected of a daughter of an aristocratic family. Although she was still young, her methods could not be underestimated. From the looks of it, even if Mu Yangling was overly introverted, the two of them should be able to stabilize their footing in the capital.
Relieved, Madam Xia introduced these officials’ wives to Li Jinghua more attentively and passionately.
The few of them did not know that the Qi family had once again become a tacit joke. When everyone’s eyes met, mockery and laughter flashed across their eyes.
As a mother-in-law, Madam Wu didn’t bring along her own daughter-in-laws, but she let Madam Fan Xia take them around to meet people. It had always been rumored in the capital that Qi Feng treated the two sons of his first wife very badly. Although everyone secretly said that with a stepmother, there would be a stepfather, they had always felt that no matter what, they were still his biological children. Even if he didn’t treat them so well, he wouldn’t be too biased. Two years ago, Qi Feng’s act of pushing his son out to take the blame in the Imperial Court already brought him a lot of contempt. This time, seeing that the couple had abandoned their son and daughters-in-law and gone to the east side to stir up trouble, how could they not be laughed at?
Everyone shook their heads slightly.
Although everyone’s gazes were subtle, Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling were sensitive. Just as everyone was regarding them as a joke and mocking them softly, the two of them raised their heads at the same time and looked around. The strange atmosphere did not disappear. Mu Yangling frowned slightly. Before she could figure out what was going on, Li Jinghua tugged at her sleeve. She came back to her senses and subconsciously smiled.
Smiling, Madam Shen said, “Is this Assistant Commander Qi’s wife? She’s really young. How old is she this year?”
‘Oh no, I forgot to pay attention just now. Who is this person?’
Mu Yangling lowered her head shyly and said in a low voice, “I’ll be 15 after the new year.”
Madam Shen sighed. “She’s still very young. She left her hometown at such a young age. Do you miss home?”
Mu Yangling didn’t expect this madam to be so friendly. She thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, but my husband said that this is also our home.”
Madam Shen smiled as she looked at Mu Yangling’s fair face. Beaming, she said, “Assistant Commander Qi is right. Lin’an Prefecture will also be your home in the future. If you’re bored in the future, come to my house to play. I have a daughter who’s about the same age as you. My daughters-in-law are not old either. They can play with you.”
Madam Shen turned to Madam Xia and said, “I like this child. She has clear eyes and is so likable.”
This was also the reason why Madam Xia had such a good impression of Mu Yangling when they first met. When she heard this, she smiled and said, “It’s good that Madam likes her. In the future, let her go often to relieve your boredom. You have to take good care of her.”
Madam Shen agreed immediately. “No problem, as long as you don’t accuse me of kidnapping your nephew’s wife.”
Madam Shen held Mu Yangling’s hand happily and said, “Let’s go. I’ll bring you to meet a few matriarchs.”
Happy to hear that, Madam Xia gave Li Jinghua a look. The matriarchs weren’t people anyone could approach. For her, she knew all the matriarchs in the capital, but other than Matriarch Yuan, no one else knew her.
Li Jinghua glanced at Mu Yangling. This child must have been distracted just now.
No matter how slow Mu Yangling was, she knew that the other party’s status was not low. Just as she was thinking about what to say later, she heard Li Jinghua ask gently, “Madam Yuan, can we pay a visit to Matriarch Yuan? Before I returned to the capital, our master even asked me to kowtow to the Matriarch. However, we have just settled down and haven’t had the time to visit.”
Matriarch Yuan? General Yuan’s mother?
Mu Yangling instantly understood that this was General Yuan’s wife, Madam Shen.
Smiling, Madam Shen said, “I’ll bring you there now.”
Matriarch Yuan was sitting with a few old feudal lords and chatting. When she saw the juniors coming over, she stopped talking. After Mu Yangling and the rest bowed and greeted them, she asked with a smile, “Are the two of you the wives of the Qi brothers?”
Li Jinghua responded with a smile. Smiling, Matriarch Yuan looked at her and asked, “You’re the daughter-in-law of the eldest son of the Qi family, right? That child is blessed.”
Li Jinghua’s face turned slightly red. A matriarch beside her said, “Isn’t she also blessed? She’s already the wife of a Grade 2 official at such a young age.”
Matriarch Yuan glared at her. “The older you get, the more thoughtless you become. Why are you jealous of a child?” Then, she comforted Li Jinghua. “You are a good child. They are generals and risk their lives on the battlefields. We women can’t go to the battlefield, but we can help them take care of their household. Don’t blame your man for not having time to accompany you.”
Li Jinghua’s face turned even redder. She said in a low but firm voice, “That won’t happen. I know that it’s even harder for them on the battlefield.”